Cane Island Parkway set for 2013 start

By Karen Hastings

Published 4:52 pm, Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Photo: Tony Bullard 2012

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Susan Alford, president of Berg Oliver Associates, an environmental consulting firm; and Lloyd Lee of Coldwell Banker Commercial real estate, look over a schematic of the preliminary engineering design for the proposed Cane Island Parkway and Interstate 10 improvement project during a Texas Department of Transportation public meeting at WoodCreek Junior High School in Katy. less

Susan Alford, president of Berg Oliver Associates, an environmental consulting firm; and Lloyd Lee of Coldwell Banker Commercial real estate, look over a schematic of the preliminary engineering design for the ... more

Photo: Tony Bullard 2012

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David Ward of David Ward Partners real estate and Wayne Shellenberg, vice president/director of aviation with Cockrell Resources Inc., look over a diagram of the preliminary design for the proposed Cane Island Parkway and Interstate 10 improvement project. less

David Ward of David Ward Partners real estate and Wayne Shellenberg, vice president/director of aviation with Cockrell Resources Inc., look over a diagram of the preliminary design for the proposed Cane Island ... more

The Texas Department of Transportation recently unveiled plans for the project, which is scheduled to begin construction in 2013 and to be completed within 12 to 18 months. The Katy City Council, which has "money in the bank" to build the Cane Island Parkway between the new overpass and Highway 90 - recently approved various agreements aimed at getting the overpass and parkway project moving.

"It's going to open up a major new north-south thoroughfare that's going to alleviate traffic and open up new development," said Katy City Councilwoman Carol Adams.

The overpass project includes westbound and eastbound entrance and exit ramps, a two-lane interchange, and conversion of the two-way frontage road on the south side of I-10 to a one-way eastbound frontage road, from FM 1463 to Pederson Road.

With a roundabout north of I-10 and connecting roads, the project effectively will move heavy truck traffic away from FM 1463 and Highway 90 near Katy High School, and give area motorists an option for avoiding heavy event traffic near the Katy Independent School District's Merrell Center.

Katy resident David Minze attended an Aug. 16 TxDOT open house and liked what he saw.

"It will certainly help relieve that congestion," said Minze. "I think it will be great for the area south of I-10. It's also going to be very good for opening up the area of Katy farther west and north of I-10."

Real estate adviser Lloyd Lee - who represents a property owner near the corner of Highway 90 and the future Cane Island Parkway, had mixed reaction. While Lee said the project will boost land values in the area, he was disappointed that the parkway stops at the railroad tracks along Highway 90. Lee said he was told that providing access across the tracks would be a challenge for some later date.

Katy Mayor Don Elder says the project already has stimulated development at the 470-acre West Ten Business Park, which he said is close to announcing a new distribution center and jobs on the west edge of town.

"We've been working on this Cane Island project with TxDOT for about four years," Elder said, acknowledging some frustration with the delay. "It's big for the people wanting to put businesses out that way."

The overpass project includes federal, state and local funding. According to a project budget approved by the city this month, the federal government will contribute $3.45 million, TxDOT will contribute $1.26 million, and local partners $3.5 million.

The city of Katy agreed earlier this year to kick in an extra $1 million for the project, after federal officials insisted local partners pay a larger share.

West Ten Business Park developers will contribute the rest of the local share.

At their Aug. 13 meeting, Katy City Council members approved agreements with Parkside-Stratford/I-10 and a municipal utility district involved in the overpass project. They also authorized the mayor to sign an agreement with TxDOT, and to accept necessary property and utility easements.

On TxDOT drawing boards, the Cane Island overpass project ends just south of I-10.

Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers said the county plans to extend Cane Island Parkway from there to FM 1463, to give residents in fast-developing neighborhoods south of Katy - like Firethorne and parts of Cinco Ranch - better access to I-10.

"I want to have my road completed the same time they have theirs," Meyers said. "So people will have another outlet to get to I-10 instead of 1463, which is a horrible bottleneck."

TxDOT officials say 14 acres of new right of way will be required for the overpass, but no businesses or residences will be displaced.

Broker Tim Thomas, who is helping market the West Ten Business Park for Parkside Capital Investments, said the Cane Island project has been expected for several years, but new businesses want more than promises before they commit.

"Things look great on paper," he said. "Companies want to see them on the ground."